The City of Auburn is taking steps to make certain programs and services more accessible following an audit from the New York State Comptroller’s Office.
The audit, conducted between January 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, found that, of the 538 applicable physical accessibility components reviewed, 70 (13%) of them could be improved. For example, service counters could be lowered to an accessible height, door thresholds could be lowered, and braille could be added to signs. The audit focused on City Hall, the fire station, city court (which is owned by Cayuga County), and the police station as they are open to the public.
The audit stated, “It is important that someone with a disability can participate in their local government’s decision-making process and be provided the same services and program opportunities as everyone else.” The report also cited a statistic from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention claiming one in ten Americans have “a mobility disability with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.”
The city agreed with the audit’s findings and is working to make sites more ADA-compliant. Work planned includes installing braille signage in areas identified by the report, making carpets and mats safe, and adjusting counter heights at restrooms in City Hall. Work is also expected to commence in the spring to create compliant handicap parking at city-owned buildings and address entrance threshold issues at City Hall. Sidewalks at the police station will be addressed during the next construction season as well.
The full report can be found below.
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